 Rowny earned a Bachelor of Science from Johns Hopkins University in Engineering, and held degrees from West Point, Yale (MAs in Engineering and International Affairs) and American University (Doctor of Philosophy in International Studies).Rowny commanded troops in World War II, Korea and Vietnam.After the 92nd Infantry Division suffered heavy casualties in the invasion of Italy in 1944, Rowny was brought in as a battalion commander that drove the Germans up the Western coast of Italy until the end of the war.